Ellie Claire Art Journals: Cultivating Creativity

November 14, 2018 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and purchase. Thank you for supporting free content on this blog.

The house is finally quiet and you’re scrolling through your Instagram feed when a beautifully hand-lettered quote catches your eye. The artistic whimsy of the words on the screen draws you in, allowing your mind a moment to mull over the truth contained in the image.

You think to yourself, “I’d love to create like that, but I just don’t know where to start.”

There’s an abundance of hand-lettering pens available on Amazon, but what about the paper? I’ve recently been introduced to the line of Ellie Claire gifts & paper expressions. Ellie Claire journals provide one location where you can practice hand lettering or just keep your thoughts in one place.

Ellie Claire graciously provided three different new journals for me to show you a sneak peek of each:

These journals all offer an interactive way to get creative in your quiet time but are each unique in style and function.

Faith & Lettering Journal

My favorite of the three, the Faith & Lettering Journal features:

Thick, sleek paper
Sample hand-lettered quotes in color
A variety of types of pages, including: lined, graph, and dots
Specific examples of hand-lettered quotes, including a section to trace and two areas to practice
A flat-lay design
A textured cover
A loop on the spine to hold your pen

Since I’ve been looking for a place to start with hand-lettering, this journal meets me right where I am and provides plenty of space for practice.

The colors are rich and the variety of types of pages allow for flexibility in types of hand-lettering practice. I have been intimidated to start, but the sample pages are the perfect way to let you dip your toes in the water. Also, I love that the journal provides a specific place to practice, instead of practicing on random scraps of paper.

Dating the practice pages also allows you to view your progress as you grow in skill.

The Faith & Lettering Journal would make a great gift for a friend who has mentioned wanting to try out hand-lettering!

The Illustrated Word: An Illuminated Bible Coloring Journal

Better for those interested in coloring rather than hand-lettering, this journal provides full-color illustrations from the archives of the Museum of the Bible along with coloring pages for those who want to try their hand at creating their own masterpieces.

The Illustrated Word Journal features:

a thick, sturdy textured cover with gold foil lettering
a flat-lay design
coloring pages with the full-color image on the opposite page
thick tan paper
lined pages for note-taking or journaling

My 6 yr old son is actually going to use this journal, so it’s very versatile!

He was intrigued by the detailed coloring pages and he is planning on using the lined pages for writing down what he’s thankful for or his prayers.

Illuminate Your Story Journal

This journal is specifically for hand-lettering as well, in the style of “illuminated” letters. These types of letters were used in manuscripts that are hundreds of years old and the ones in the journal are inspired by ancient lettering traditions.

The Illuminate Your Story Journal features:

a thick textured cover
a loop for your pen
a history of illuminated letters
ideas for supplies
a special pocket in the back for Keepsakes
an elastic loop to keep the journal closed

This journal is best used for specific practice with individual letters. Each letter has a two-page spread with 7 step-by-step examples of how to go from a basic letter to a full color illuminated letter, along with a spot to create your own version of each letter.

Interspersed with the letter instruction pages, you’ll find step-by-step instructions of how to make illuminated versions of owls, geese, and other flourishes.

There are also a few quotes about slowing down and enjoying the moment, reminding us to use our God-given creative expression in the day to day.

Thank you to Ellie Claire for providing these journals for review!

The Study Bible for Women: CSB Version | A Review

June 1, 2018 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

This summer I’m diving deep into Hebrews through Jen Wilkin’s study Better: A Study of Hebrews (available FREE!) with some other ladies in our church who also don’t want the more laid back rhythm of summer to equal our spiritual growth becoming stagnant. If you’re not familiar with Jen’s studies, you may be surprised to find out that she recommends that you do NOT use a study Bible, as her goal is to challenge you to consider the scriptures with your own mind, not through the lens of another commentator.

I appreciate her perspective and for the study, I’ve honored her suggestion. However, I’d be remiss not to share with you this new beautiful study Bible I received recently for review. There are times when a study Bible provides much-needed perspective and insight into the original meaning of the scripture and I encourage everyone to purchase one!

This version is The Study Bible for Women and is the Christian Standard Bible version. My copy has a removable dust cover and a hardback teal and tan bound cover. And ya’ll…it has TWO ribbon bookmarks – also teal and tan. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in church and needed to mark more than one place. It’s simple, but the two bookmarks are a winner!

As you consider adding this Bible as a study Bible for yourself or to give to a friend as a gift, there are some features that truly stand out.

INTRODUCTION

Before you ever get to the text, there are some features I really love at the beginning of the Bible:

Wife’s Family Tree
Husband’s Family Tree
The Ketubah (wedding information section)
Family Milestones
My Spiritual Mothers

These are wonderful places to note important information and milestones in your family’s history.

For those who aren’t familiar with studying the Bible, the How to Study the Bible section is also very helpful!

For those who aren’t familiar with the Christian Standard Bible translation of the Bible and are curious about how it was developed, there are 5 pages dedicated to explaining the method and perspective used to complete the translation. You can also learn more by watching this YouTube video.

These are also included before the text:

Transliteration Charts for Greek and Hebrew
Table of Weights and Measures
Abbreviations Used in the CSB Study Bible for Women

IN-TEXT FEATURES

There’s a whole section at the back of the Bible dedicated to highlighting the different features of the study Bible.

I really love the Introduction sections to each book. It’s so helpful to understand who wrote the text, who the intended recipients were, what the main themes are, a suggestion of how to read the book, and even the answer to the question “why should women read” the particular book.

There’s also an outline and the typical study notes at the bottom of each page that are referenced in the text.

Another helpful feature is the charts included that summarize topics highlighted in each book. The one below synthesizes the teachings on suffering in the book of 1 Peter, so if you’re wanting to study that topic, it gives you a jump start on your study.

Word studies are another helpful feature. These are included as one of several types of “threads” of specialized study that help you dive deeper into the text.

Other types of specialized study helps include:

Profiles of biblical women
Answers to hard questions
Doctrines
Biblical womanhood descriptions

Other things that I personally consider when deciding to purchase a Bible are how easy the text is to read and how the pages feel when I turn them. The CSB Women’s Study Bible knocks these out of the park!

The text is large enough for my aging eyes to see clearly and the print is a font that’s easy on the eyes as well. The paper is a thickness that allows for writing notes, underlining, etc. without concern for the pages tearing.

There’s not much room in the margins for writing your own notes, but I’ve always used the top of the page as well, so you can get creative.

AFTER THE TEXT

After the text, the features continue! You can find:

Index of Features (topics)
Character Profiles
Charts Index
Hard Questions Index
Maps and Reconstuctions Index
Concordance (featuring ALL the women of the Bible)
Full Color Maps

I won’t hesitate to recommend this Bible to friends or to purchase one for someone who is wanting to take their next step in understanding the scriptures. Thank you to Front Gate Media for providing this copy for me to review!

You can WIN your own copy by entering the giveaway here.

Purchase your own copy on Amazon or anywhere books are sold.

Family Honor Plate & Table Thyme Discussion Cards Review

February 18, 2018 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

I’m always on the lookout for fun and engaging ways to bring Biblical truth into our everyday experiences in our home.

With 5 small kids, the reality is that most days are composed of daily household essentials — get dressed, change diapers, eat breakfast, brush teeth, grab backpacks, drive to school, drive to work, get home, review homework, sign papers, make dinner, pack lunches, clean kitchen, work some more, get ready for bed — and repeat.

While I desperately want to plant truth into the hearts of the little people in my care, during this season it’s often woven into the everyday experiences instead of looking like some big elaborate family study.

It’s always an exciting day when I find a tool or resource that I can easily incorporate into the everyday rhythms and the Family Honor Plate and Table Thyme Discussion Cards are both fabulous ones!

The Family Honor Plate is both a one-time family painting activity and a long-term tool that can be used ongoing to celebrate “catching” one of your children or your spouse exhibiting one of the fruits of the spirit.

The kit comes with a white plate, a painting set, and instructions. Thankfully if you make a mistake, the paint wipes right off until you bake the plate in the oven to “set” it and make it safe for use with food.

I’m excited to start using the plate to highlight when my kids make good choices.

Lately we’ve been battling a certain 2 year old’s use of the phrase “stupid dummy” and I’d much rather be celebrating positive behavior and kind words than constantly reminding her that we don’t use those negative mean words.

I like that the Family Honor Plate, with regular use, has the ability to facilitate a family culture of building one another up in love.

While I’m certainly not the most crafty person around, thankfully you don’t have to be to still have a pretty, festive plate! 🙂

A sample of the Table Thyme Discussion Cards come with the Family Honor Plate but the full set is worth investing in as well.

There are some really fun questions like “would you ever go sky diving and why or why not?” and then others that are more serious in nature. I really love this one below, because I think it gets kids thinking about the responsibility of the parents to teach the kids obedience.

Communication is the key to connecting, building and maintaining healthy relationships. When we raise our children to be confident in their ability to communicate with others and get their point across, situations are less stressful and they have better outcomes.

Learning communication skills is a lifelong process and it’s critical that we start the process early in our homes.

With Christmas coming up in the next few weeks, both the Family Honor Plate and the Table Thyme Discussion Cards would make a great family gift!

I’m all for “experience” type gifts that create memories and opportunities for connectedness. These do both!

Here’s to more family connectedness through the holidays and all year long!

Thanks to FlyBy Promotions for sharing a review copy of these with me. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links are used in this post.

Gift Guide: Essentials for Moms Expecting Twins

February 1, 2018 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

When you find out you’re expecting twins, there’s a bit of shock that comes along with those two heartbeats you hear and the two little jellybeans you see on the screen. Not only are you going to have two babies, you may also think you need two of everything!

While there’s always more you can buy, these are the essentials every mom needs to stay sane those first few months.

Fisher-Price Auto Rock ‘n Play Sleeper

Fisher-Price Auto Rock 'n Play Sleeper, Aqua Stone

Pampers Swaddlers Diapers, Size N

Pampers Swaddlers Diapers, Size N, Giant Pack, 128 Count (Packaging May Vary)

Baby Bottle Warmer, Steam Sterilizer & Baby Food Heater, 3-in-1

Twin Carrier, Twingaroo

Stuff 4 Multiples Twin Carrier, Twingaroo, Black

Hiccapop Pregnancy Pillow Wedge

When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads

Joovy Twin Roo+ Car Seat Stroller

Twin Z Pillow

THE TWIN Z PILLOW - BLUE - 6 uses in 1 Twin Pillow ! Breastfeeding, Bottlefeeding, Tummy Time, Reflux, Support and Pregnancy Pillow! CUDDLE BLUE DOTS

Twin Z Pillow + 1 Designer Pink Whimsy Cover + FREE Travel Bag! …

My Brest Friend Twins Plus Deluxe Nursing Pillow

My Brest Friend Twins Plus Deluxe Nursing Pillow, Green, 0-12 Months

“Womb Mates” Cute Boys or Girls Twin Outfit

Cute twin outfit "womb mates"

Finding God’s Goodness in the Broken and the Beautiful {book review + giveaway}

November 3, 2017 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

When I first started writing online and chose the blog name Embracing the Mosaic Life, it was during a period of time in my personal spiritual journey where I had the realization of how God truly works in the broken pieces of our lives to turn them into a thing of beauty through the process of His redemption.

A few years prior to that, I’d read a book written by Katie Davis, an 18-year old who left her comfortable home and life in Nashville, TN to volunteer in a school in Uganda. And in an unexpected turn of events, she returned to Uganda after that first year and became a single mother, fostering and later adopting 13 girls.

It was a story that captivated my heart, as at the time, I was working through what it looked like to surrender my will and my plans to God’s will and His plans as well.

Now, over 5 years later, Katie has walked out her faith and has experienced her own set of heartaches, some of which included watching a dear friend die and losing a child she loved as her own.

In her follow-up book, Daring to Hope: Finding God’s Goodness in the Broken and the Beautiful, Katie Davis Majors shares intimately what the process of God turning her own brokenness into beauty has looked like in her life the past few years. She openly shares her doubts and struggles, connecting with most anyone who seeks to authentically walk the Christian path.

Part of her story includes her journey of founding Amazima Ministries, an organization that helps to educate and empower the people of Uganda with God’s love through relief work and community development.

In her first book, Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption, she shares incredible stories of God working in what seems like impossible situation after impossible situation. However, as we find through the pages of this latest book, she has uncovered a truth that speaks life into all of us as busy Christian moms and women seeking to make a difference in this world.

She shares:

When I invite Him into my tiny and ordinary, even mundane moments become extraordinary. Small acts of love become whispers of His glory in the midst of our everydayness.”

While we may never move to a far away country to serve people in desperate situations, Katie’s revelation of uncovering the truth that is our heart’s deep need to glorify God in every situation strikes a chord in all of our hearts.

This is such a simple truth and yet strikes my heart in a profound way. To dwell in the place I have been given. To do the things I have been given. To love the people I have been given. This is not mysterious or far-reaching, and yet this is the truth of a God-ordained life.”

To dwell in the place I have been given.

Yes, this is what we all need to remember.

Dwell. Do. Love.

It doesn’t have to be as complicated as we make it.

Katie’s poignant memoir is an authentic telling of one faithful woman’s decision to pursue God in the everyday moments — the small, seemingly insignificant ones, the challenging and heartbreaking ones, and the thrilling, joy-filled ones.

I’d encourage you to pick up a copy on Amazon or enter the giveaway below. Giveaway ends November 11th and the winner will receive email notification.

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Keeping Your Children Safe Online: A Parent’s Guide

March 27, 2017 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

There isn’t a week that goes by where my Facebook feed doesn’t show a picture of a missing child, usually in conjunction with a warning about internet safety for kids.

As a pregnant mama of twins and with three kids already at home, these stories cut me to the core. I imagine the heartbreak of these kids’ mothers as they struggle to understand what went wrong and how their child could have become a victim of an online predator.

I also want to think this would never happen to our family. The reality is though, it happens everyday to “normal” families like yours and mine.

While my kids are still young, we do set parameters around screen time use in preparation for when they will begin needing to search online for school projects and when they’ll start asking about connecting with friends online through social media.

girl using ipad

My husband is more attuned to the dangers lurking online than I am, as he teaches life skills classes to at-risk middle and high school students weekly. The program includes the district attorney as a guest speaker to explain to the kids the dangers of unrestricted internet use and the implications their actions online may have legally or socially as they grow older. It’s a sobering talk!

Internet Safety for Kids

While I truly want to trust that my kids will follow our guidelines for using devices both in our home and when they are out with others, the truth is that this technology often provides more options and opportunities than their developing minds can appropriately process and handle with the maturity needed to stay safe online.

That’s why I’m thankful for organizations like KidGuard, a company providing a software program that equips parents with tools to monitor their children’s activities online.

From their website:

KidGuard provides a software for parents to monitor their children’s text messages, GPS location and phone logs allowing the parent to stay on top of issues such as cyberbullying, online predators, teen depression, and other risks to their children arising from the internet.

Getting parents more involved with their children’s digital activities will prevent unforeseen dangers that children may face on a daily basis.

We strive to help educate parents on how to protect their children from online threats while encouraging honest communication between family members.

The actual KidGuard software tool is robust and includes features such as the ability to monitor:

text messages
GPS location
cell phone logs
social media activity

I particularly love the focus on encouraging honest communication between parents and children about the dangers online and how to stay safe while using the powerful tool that the internet is.

KidGuard is also committed to educating parents and their Parents’ Survival Guide to Online Safety is an absolute gold mine of information, covering topics in detail including:

Internet Safety Facts Parents Should Know About
Cyber Bulling
Online Predators
How to Help Your Children Protect Themselves Online
Popular Apps Among Teens Parents Should Keep Track Of
Do’s and Don’ts of Online Safety
7 Online Safety Reminders for Your Child
How to Talk to Your Child or Teen About Online Safety
7 Tips on Setting Cell Phone Rules with Your Child
How to Edit Privacy Settings on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and WhatsApp
How to Enable Parental Controls

The information in the parental guide is available topic by topic by clicking through each section individually on the site for more details, the PDF can be downloaded directly from their site, or the hard copy written version can be purchased on Amazon.

If you’re not sure if the KidGuard service is right for your family, I’d encourage you to check out the live demo showing you how the service functions and the 7-day free trial. I was able to connect to the service and start viewing information in less than 5 minutes, so it’s definitely a simple process.

Whether or not KidGuard is the right solution for internet monitoring for your family, I encourage you to take the important steps needed to keep your children safe online by starting the conversations now and by putting boundaries in place for online use in your home and with any devices your children may have access to.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post created in partnership with KidGuard. All opinions are my own.

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